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Added 1 October 2026

chieftain

/ˈt͡ʃiːf.tən/ noun

In Latin: procer Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about chieftain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A leader of a clan or tribe.
A leader of a group.
The robber chieftain divided up the spoils.

Origin

From Middle English cheveteyn, cheftayne, from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus (English captain), from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head), itself from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Doublet of captain; related to chief.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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